Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has revealed that Australia will relish being the underdogs for their crunch World Cup play-offs.

The Socceroos take on Uruguay in the first game of their two-legged tie tomorrow, with the aggregate winners booking a place in next year's finals.

Schwarzer should start between the posts for the high-stakes clash in Montevideo and the return in Sydney next Wednesday.

The 33-year-old realises his side have their work cut out against the team who beat them in the play-offs for the 2002 tournament. But he reckons Australia, who boast a sole World Cup appearance in Germany 1974, have a glorious chance of reaching international football's top competition.

"It's going to be very, very difficult as I think there are very few people in Europe that have had experience of playing in South America," Schwarzer told the Gazette.

"It's also a very unique experience, especially with it being a World Cup qualifier.

"But we are very well prepared this time around, especially compared to last time.

"We know what we need to do, there are a lot of players who have been there and done it before.

"And we've never really feared anyone, we proved that in 2003 when we beat England at West Ham's ground.

"We've often been underdogs and if anything we thrive on being the underdogs."